Kubo Tite - Bleach, ch. 251-264

[oyceter]

I think I'm somewhere around the middle of vol. 29 now, though I'm not sure.

So chapters 251-262 consisted of: Chad or Ichigo or Renji or Ishida fight some not-quite-Hollow who mocks them and tells them what his name means. Comic relief ensues with Nell or someone in Nell's gang. They fight some more. They boast. They fight even more. Comic relief ensues. The not-quite-Hollow mocks more. Brief shot of Orihime looking wistful. More fighting. More boasting. More mocking.

Soooooo boooooring!

Though thanks to Kubo's art, I still found all the comic relief with Nell and Nell's gang hilarious.

And then, on the last page of 262, Kaien!

Sadly, I have been so behind on Bleach and paying so little attention to it that until I read rilina's write up, I thought Kaien was actually Hollow!Ichigo. Oops. On the other hand, now I see where all the Kaien-reincarnates-as-Ichigo fic come from.

I currently have no theories, as I have totally forgotten what Arrancars and Visoreds and all those things are, what the hyougoku is (again), how Kaien died, and only vaguely remember why he is important and why everyone is in that stupid castle of gamemaster DOOM anyway.

My explanation for the last is that they have fallen into the Bleach video game and must endlessly go through dungeons to fight the big boss.

Comments

[rilina.livejournal.com]

Kaien died because he was possessed by the Hollow that had killed his wife. Rukia had to kill Hollow!Kaien because he was about to kill her. After she stabbed him, he seemed to return to himself and managed to thank her before he died tragically, scarring Rukia emotionally for the next few decades.

I am so amused by how Kaien's reappearance sort of puts the lid on all the Ichigo-as-reincarted-Kaien theories.

Everyone is in the stupid castle of gamemaster DOOM to rescue Orihime. Who hopefully will rescue herself in time to save ell the blustering males.

[oyceter]

Oooohhhh, yes, now Arrancar!Kaien makes a lot more sense and has a lot more emotional resonance!

I think I managed to remember that they were rescuing Orihime after the many shots of Orihime looking woeful and forlorn and worrying about her friends. Wargh. It's Soul Society arc part 2!